7 Tips for Creating Beautiful Floral Bouquets

See which blooms are best for certain occasions and how to pair them with other flowers

By Jean Nayar

Like people, every flower is unique—each characterized by its own color, form and scent. When combining flowers to create bouquets, New York–based floral designer Lucinda Rooney, author of Bouquets with Personality, says the process is similar to gathering people together for an occasion. Some flowers mix well, while others don’t. Here are her ideas on how to get the perfect balance every time.

1. Color is key. “If you’re trying to convey an emotion with flowers, color plays the most important role, even when the flowers are white,” says Rooney. Designers and color experts know that colors elicit certain emotions—red induces excitement, for example, yellow happiness, and blue serenity—and they use them to set a certain mood. When creating a bouquet for someone else, Rooney suggests including flowers with shades that make the recipient happy, such as variations on her favorite hue. If you’re trying to convey a certain mood with a bouquet in your own home, choose flowers that reflect the quality you want to express: classic white roses for purity and a sense of tradition, or fluffy blue hydrangeas for a laid-back, relaxed feeling. Keep in mind that the bouquet will be part of your decor, so choose blooms that pick up a dominant or accent hue in your room’s overall color scheme for harmony. Selecting blossoms that contrast with the scheme can add energy or seasonal punch.

2. Think about shape and texture. The shape of a flower and the texture of its petals are essential aspects of its character. Both have a powerful impact on a flower’s ability to mix with other flowers. “The lines of certain flowers—such as calla lilies, with their stiff stems and rubbery petals—are so strong that you can’t mix them with other flowers,” says Rooney. “Lady’s mantle, on the other hand, is ethereal, light and frothy, making it ideal as a filler with other more dominant flowers, such as roses.” For a mixed bouquet, Rooney suggests looking at more structured flowers with bolder blossoms as the lead characters and softer, more compliant flowers as the supporting roles.

3. Trust your instincts. When trying to express a particular emotion with flowers, consider the response the colors and shapes of the blossoms elicit in you. “Red zinnias, with their perky petals, give me a sense of summer, lightness, happiness and simplicity,” says Rooney. “The bowed white heads of lily of the valley, on the other hand, make me think of purity and humility. They excite your senses with their fragrance, but they are spiritual flowers and have sturdy character in an understated way.” By following your gut reaction to a particular flower, you can craft a message that resonates with a particular emotion.

4. Respect the recipient. Floral bouquets are great for expressing all kinds of emotions, from gratitude and sympathy to love and happiness. When you want to let someone know you’re thinking about him or her, Rooney suggests giving flowers that reflect the person’s tastes. “If you’re trying to express gratitude with flowers, for example, choose blossoms that include aspects of what the recipient loves,” says Rooney. “You might think about the person’s wardrobe and choose a flower such as red roses or red tulips for someone who loves the color red, or pick a flower with a scent that is similar to someone’s favorite perfume.”

5. Reveal a part of yourself. Flowers are also very effective at conveying messages that tell the recipient something personal about you. “When you want to use flowers to ask forgiveness or show compassion, choose those that reflect your own passions or personality and show the recipient that you’re sharing or giving a part of yourself,” says Rooney. She notes her own fondness for wildflowers like cosmos, bee balm or gaillardia, which she believes aptly express her “Type-A personality.”

6. Don’t be afraid to break the rules. Lend a note of surprise to holidays or anniversaries with bouquets that depart from the norm. “Although they’re beautiful, I think roses are highly overrated, especially when given on Valentine’s Day,” says Rooney. “If you really want to give roses, consider giving white ones instead of red and mixing them with white parrot tulips and white narcissus to soften them and give them a little frailty, which, to me, is what love is all about.” Rooney likes single-flower bouquets for making a strong statement, but prefers a mix of flowers to convey a nuanced message. To keep mixed bouquets looking cohesive, she suggests choosing flowers in one color to unify the ensemble. If you really want to blend flowers of different colors, choose two types and use a 60/40 percent mix.

7. Consider the occasion. Just as what you wear depends on where you’re going, the flowers you choose for a bouquet will depend on what they’re for. “Not only should the flowers match the tone of the occasion, the container you put them in should also complement the mood,” says Rooney. “Echinacea, yarrow, honeysuckle and forget-me-nots in a bucket are great as a centerpiece at a country picnic, while orchids in black ceramic vases can make a sophisticated statement at a formal dinner.” If you’re wondering what types of flowers are best to get your message across, consider this easy-to-follow guide from Rooney:

Your information has been saved and an account has been created for you giving you full access to everything womansday.com and Hearst Digital Media Network have to offer. To change your username and/or password or complete your profile, click here.